TANE TU’IPULOTU will rise to the challenge of the Sipi Tau for the second time in his career tonight when Newcastle Falcons face up to Tonga’s version of the Haka.

The Newcastle centre never got to represent Tonga due to his decision to opt for New Zealand, despite being born and raised on the Pacific Island.

Turning out for the Kiwis’ second-string national side, the Junior All Blacks, Tu’ipulotu took on his homeland in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup and will do so again this evening as the Falcons host international opposition at Kingston Park for the very first time.

Much excitement around the fixture surrounds the visitors’ pre-match war dance, with the Sipi Tau set to provide a spine-tingling precursor to the 7.30pm kick-off.

Explaining the ritual, Tu’ipulotu said: “Facing down the Sipi Tau is pretty fierce, to say the least.

“There are a lot of throat-slitting gestures and heads being ripped off, but it is all fun and games and a spectacle that the supporters enjoy.

“Most schools in Tonga traditionally have their own individual Hakas that they will perform before games.

“It is renowned in the islands, and these sorts of cultural performances are part of the fabric of everyday life there.”

Having responded to the challenge during an emotional game for the Junior All Blacks against his native country, the centre said: “Yes, we did our own Haka before the game.

“It was not the traditional ‘Ka Mate’ Haka that the full All Blacks usually perform.

“We mixed ours up a bit, and came up with our own style.

“The first thing is that the crowd love it when they see these rituals, but also from a players’ point of view you get a bit of an advantage. It gets the adrenalin going, and your concentration levels are really heightened.”

Resisting the urge to perform his own Haka this evening, Tu’ipulotu added: “No, I will just watch the Sipi Tau and respect it in that way.

“If I had another couple of Tongans in the Falcons team to back me up then I would consider responding to it, but we would have had to come up with a special Falcons Haka.

“As it is we will just let them do their thing, and when the game kicks off that is when we will come to life.”